News archive (2014 - 08)

On September 1 air contingents conducting NATO’s Air Policing Mission in the Baltic States will rotate at a formal ceremony at Šiauliai Air Base of the Lithuanian Air Force. Poland and the United Kingdom which had strengthened Poland’s contingent will hand over the mission after a four-month tour of duty to Portugal with six F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets. The Portuguese air contingent will be augmented by four F-18 Hornets of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

On August 29 vessels of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), including the Lithuanian LNS JOTVINGIS (N42), currently led by Commander Giedrius Premeneckas (Lithuanian Navy) moored at Turku seaport in Finland. SNMCMG1 will take part in NATO-European Union’s Exercise Northern Coast 2014 in the northern part of the Baltic Sea and the territorial waters of Finland.

On August 29 six F-16 Fighting Falcons of the Portuguese Air Force will land at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai. An arriving contingent of 70 will be the second occasion of Portugal’s military patrolling the Baltic airspace. On September 1 Portugal is taking over the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission from Poland.

On 26 August four Royal Canadian Air Force fighters F-18 Hornet landed in Lithuanian Armed Force Air Base in Šiauliai. From 1 September Canada and Portugal will start 36th NATO air policing mission rotation in the Baltic countries.

Four months along with the fighters more than 130 Canadian soldiers - pilots and maintenance personnel will be deployed in Lithuania. The Canadian Air Task Force is a part of operation “Reassurance” air component, assigned by Canada to provide NATO's support in order to ensure security and stability in the Central and Eastern Europe.

Canadian troops arrived to Lithuania when completed participation in the Allied operation in Romania.

On August 21, during his trip to Afghanistan, Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas met with Ambassador Maurits Jochems, the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. (USA), Commander ISAF, and Jan Kubiš, the Special Representative for Afghanistan and the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

On August 22 Vice Minister of National Defence Marijus Velička and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson held a meeting at the Ministry of National Defence. The officials discussed defence and energy security cooperation of the United States and Lithuania as well as the security situation in the region.

On August 21 Defence Attachés of Germany changed over at a formal ceremony at the Ministry of National Defence. Vice Minister of National Defence Marijus Velička presented the National Defence Medal of Merit to the outgoing Germany’s Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Achim Neitzert who was succeeded by Commander Thomas Hacken in the position. Vice Minister M.Velička highlighted at the ceremony that there had been quite numerous bilateral high-level meetings over the several latter years and thanked Germany for its contribution to ensuring the security of the Baltic airspace and for deployment of German troops to exercises in our region.

On August 18 the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence held a session with regard to Ukraine’s request for assistance and agreed to send material support comprising field rations and medical supplies to the country hit by crisis. Ukraine has issued requests for assistance for all the NATO member states.

“We primarily aim at demonstrating our solidarity with and support to Ukraine by our assistance,” Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas said. According to the Minister, Ukraine’s stability is an important factor for the security of our state, so practical support for the country is necessary too.

A Lithuanian delegation led by the Minister of National Defence, Juozas Olekas, arrived in Afghanistan on August 20. The Lithuanian representatives where will meet with Lithuanian military servicemembers contributing to the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan.

While in Afghanistan, the delegation will also meet with representatives of the Defence and Finance Ministries of Afghanistan, and the United Nations’ and NATO ISAF leaderships, for a discussion over the current security situation in the country, prospects of Lithuania’s contribution to the new NATO’s mission Resolute Support in Afghanistan post 2014, and other matters.

On August 20 Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) General Paul J. Selva came on a visit to the Ministry of National Defence.

The guest was welcomed by a team of Lithuanian MoD and military representatives headed by Vice Minister of National Defence Marijus Velička. The Lithuanian Defence Vice Minister thanked the U.S. General for the support his country was rendering by sending its troops to ensure the Lithuanian and Baltic security following the crisis in Ukraine.